Feed-water apparatus



- (No Modl.)

A. OATOHPOLE. FEED WATER APPARATUS.

No. 496,040. Patented Apr. 25, 1893.

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ALFRED OATOHPOLE, OF GENEVA, NEW YORK.

FEED-WATER APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 496,040, dated April 25, 1893.

Application filed June 20, 1892.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, ALFRED CATCHPOLE, of Geneva, in the county of Ontario, in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Feed-Water Apparatus, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to devices or apparatus fol-automatically supplying feed-water to steam boilers, by the automatic operating of the valve in the main induction pipe, actuated to be opened or closed by the variation of the water level in the boiler; opening it when the water goes below the predetermined level, and closing it when it rises to it again.

My object is to produce such an apparatus, adapted to operate quickly, and effectively, and to provide it with means to adjustably regulate the degree to which the valve can be opened, to positively stop it when closed and to prevent it from being opened by the backward rotation of the valve beyond the closing point, so that it cannot be thereby opened to let in more water after it has been closed by the rising of the water to the normal level, and to thereby prevent the floodmg of the boiler; and also by this stop mechanlsm, to prevent the forward rotation of the valve beyond the point where it is wide open, so as to shut off part of the inflow, when the water is lowin the boiler; all being automatic in its action.

My invention consists in the several novel features of construction and operation hereinafter described and which are specifically set forth in the claim hereto annexed. It is constructed as follows, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which I show a side elevation of my apparatus connected to aboiler.

A, is a part of the boiler, and -a is a tank or vessel, connected to the boiler above and below the water line therein and of the requisite strength to stand the boiler pressure; the pipes b-, c being such connections, and the one permitting the free flow of water into the tank from the boiler to maintain the same water level therein as in the boiler, and the other permitting the free flow of steam from the boiler into said tank. A water-glass cZ- upon the tank shows the water level therein. Said pipes b and c are springy and elastically support said tank, in conjunction with the balancing mechanism, which maintains the tank at it's normal position when the water therein and in the boiler is at the normal level. This mechanism comprises a pairof differential pulleys -e, e' secured together and mounted loosely upon an arbor e" suitably supported; a cord --hconnected at one end to an eye h upon the tank, and at the other end to an eye upon the rim of the pulley e', and a cord 7 connected at one end to an eye upon the rim of the pulley e-, and carrying the weight k-- upon its free end.

The induction pipe m is connected to the boiler in the ordinary manner, and provided with a suitable valve -m'- shown in the drawing as adapted to be rotated by its stem, to be opened or closed, and having a lever -n secured to said stem, and nis a rod connected to said lever, and to the pipe -b-, but it may also be connected to the tank.

Upon the arbor -e"- I secure a collar 1' adj ustably, and provided with arms r' and -r" of proper length to engage with a stop-pin wupon the side of the pulley e' when said pulley rotates upon the arbor either way, and thus regulate and control the extent of such rotation. When the water falls below the normal level, the weight -Zowill over-balance and raise the tank, and this will raise the valve lever and open the valve, and let in the water, and also will bring the arm -ragainst the stop-pin when the valve is open far enough. Then as the water rises above the normal level in the boiler and tank, the weight of the tank overbalances the counterbalance, rotates the pulley to the right and closes the valve, and just as the same is closed, the arm -r" will come against said stop-pin and hold the valve in that position. It will be seen that this stop mechanism is a prevention both of low water and of flooding in the boiler.

I am aware that feed-water devices having a movable feed-tank counterbalanced by a weighted lever, have heretofore been employed, and also that such tanks counterbalanced by a spring have been used, but no device of the kind having differential pulleys small one, the latter connected to the feed- 1 5 water chamber and the other provided with a counter-balancing Weighted cord, the fixed arms 0', 1" secured to the arbor upon which the pulleys are journaled and the intermediate stop-pin secured to the face of the small 20 pulley to limit the movement of the parts of the device, substantially as specified.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 14th day of June, 1892.

ALFRED GATCHPOLE. In presence of- F. A. MALETTE, OHAs. S. BURRALL, 

